For the past 37 years, Diane Gunaka has operated Sunshine Activity Center, the only afternoon and evening respite care center for developmentally disabled adults on the North Side of Chicago. She has lovingly created a place where developmentally disabled adults could learn to care for themselves, participate in programs and outings, and provide their parents with some respite of their own.

After weathering two years of the budget impasse, though, Sunshine Activity Center may have to close its doors this June after its contract was not renewed. The center is entirely funded by the state and does not receive any federal support.

“The staff at Sunshine Activity Center provides a great service to their clients and families,” State Senator John Mulroe said. “I am always impressed when I visit the center at how well the clients are cared for.”

Senator Mulroe at Sunshine Activity Center for his annual holiday visit.For the past eight months, the center has operated without state support. Sunshine Activity Center’s doors have remained open thanks to the generous support of donors, but that money has almost run out. With clientele that are for the most part elderly, and staff members that are stretched thin, the center has found that there are limited opportunities to fundraise.

As a result of budget cuts over the past few years, Sunshine Activity Center has been forced to reduce staff and cut back on programming. While they used to employ seven staff members to care for 25 developmentally disabled adults, they now employ three people and staff has had to double up on duties. They have also had to cut their home living program and limit outings.

“We’re trying to continue it, but I don’t know how long we’ll be able to hang on,” Gunaka said.

Gunaka stated that if Sunshine Activity Center closes, some clients will be left without service while others won’t have care in the evenings.

After 37 years of service, the state decided not to renew Sunshine Activity Center’s contract, citing that the center didn’t meet the respite requirement. Gunaka said that the state limited Sunshine Activity Center to 25 program participants, but then faulted the center for being too small.

The families of Sunshine Activity Center have written to the governor, pleading for support. He has replied with his apologies but with no offer of assistance.

To support Sunshine Activity Center and their efforts to serve developmentally disabled adults on the Northside of Chicago, click here for their GoFundMe page.

SPRINGFIELD – Patients with chronic conditions often juggle multiple medications and several trips to the pharmacy. Senate Bill 1546, introduced by State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago), seeks to streamline that process by allowing patients to synchronize their prescription refills so that they can pick them up at the same time.

“I hope that this legislation will make managing a chronic condition a little easier,” Mulroe said. “By streamlining the logistics of prescription refills, I aim to relieve some of the stress of a chronic condition. SB 1546 will also simplify the refill process for pharmacies.”

Studies have shown that prescription synchronization increases patient adherence to medication directions. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, medications are not taken as prescribed 50 percent of the time. Over $100 billion are spent annually as a result of prescription non-adherence.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago) issued the following statement on the motion filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to stop paychecks to state workers until a budget is approved:

“Governor Rauner has neglected his constitutional obligation to present the legislature with a balanced budget for nearly two years. If he had engaged in budget negotiations rather than holding them hostage until he received portions of his turnaround agenda, we would not be in this situation. All of this could have been avoided had the governor presented a balanced budget.

“I am willing to engage in budget conversations and make cuts where necessary. I think it’s important that we ensure that core services like higher education and social services receive proper funding. I want to fulfill the legislature’s responsibility to appropriate funds.

“This budget impasse has been detrimental to our state, and the Attorney General’s motion just adds to our budget crisis. I will fight for our state workers and for the families across Illinois that are being unduly influenced by the governor’s inaction. We need a solution for all services now.”

Today Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago) was appointed chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee. Mulroe has served on the committee for four years.

“I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to handle the numerous issues that come before the insurance committee that affect my district, our state and country,” Mulroe said. “If the Affordable Care Act is repealed at the federal level, I will work with stakeholders to ensure that whatever replaces it is truly affordable, does not overly burden the middle class and provides participants with access to use the doctors and hospitals they choose.”

In Illinois, more than 350,000 individuals have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act through the insurance marketplace since it was established and even more have been covered through the Medicaid expansion. Federal attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement could leave 18 million individuals who are currently insured without coverage.

The Affordable Care Act has allowed children to stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26, protected individuals from being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, and lowered the cost of preventative treatment.

Taking on this new role will require Mulroe to step down as chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee, but he will continue to serve as an active member of the panel.